Fed: Aust govt demands release of jailed Zimbabwe MP

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2004
Fed: Aust govt demands release of jailed Zimbabwe MP

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Australia today demanded the release of an white Zimbabwe politician
jailed for shoving a Mugabe government minister.

The Zimbabwean parliament voted in October to uphold a prison sentence on Roy Bennett
for shoving Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa to the ground during a heated debate in
May.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the offence under Zimbabwean law would have
attracted a maximum $30 fine.

"I am deeply concerned by the imprisonment of Mr Bennett, member of parliament with
the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe," Mr Downer said in a statement.

He said Zimbabwe's parliament, dominated by President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party,
had used its own powers to investigate the incident and impose a sentence on Mr Bennett
far harsher than he would have received from an unbiased court.

"This incident follows four years of relentless political persecution of Mr Bennett,"

Mr Downer said.

"During this time, he has been arrested, assaulted and evicted from his home.

"His wife has been held hostage, two men who worked for Mr Bennett have been murdered
by members of the security forces and two young female workers have been raped.

"President Mugabe has publicly threatened Mr Bennett and encouraged ZANU-PF supporters
to force him from his constituency."

Mr Downer said Mr Bennett's case highlighted yet again the Mugabe regime's determination
to cling to power in Zimbabwe by whatever means possible.

"Mugabe's flagrant disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law has brought
only hardship and suffering to the people of Zimbabwe," Mr Downer said.

"The Australian government demands the immediate release of Mr Bennett and an end to
all further persecution against him, his family, friends, workers and colleagues."

AAP dep/it/jlw/

KEYWORD: ZIMBABWE AUST

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.